Method and apparatus for hoisting poles



April 3, 1962 R. R. McCAMlSH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HOISTING POLES 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1957 Mmkm V 0 w nW M 8 R. m T L R m WM wW B E u H4 R R w mm w m ,\m m 6 m m Aprll 3, 1962 R. R. M CAMISH3,028,022

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HOISTING POLES Filed April 23, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 2 [.IME

ROBERT R. MC CAM/SH INVENTQ? HUEB/VER, BEE HLER 8 WORRE L A TTORNEKS"WWW Sttes 3,028,022 IVEETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HOISTING POLES Robert R.McQarnish, 4546 E. Nevada, Fresno, Calif. Filed Apr. 23, 1957, Ser. No.654,595 Claims. (Cl. 214-3) The present invention relates to a methodand apparatus for hoisting or raising poles and more particularly to apowered hoisting implement, or pike, especially adapted to erect and setpoles in precisely vertical, or other generally upright, positions.

Crews of seven or eight workmen are usually assigned to erect powerpoles for electrical transmission lines according to conventionalpractices. The poles are usually inserted in holes dug for the purposewith the aid of a ,-cable connected to a truck hoist. While the cable isstill connected to a pole, the workmen shove elongated, rigid hoistingimplements having sharpened points into the pole from all sides in orderto steady, guide and position the pole. These implements are known inthe art as pikes and are hereinafter so designated. Obviouslyconsiderable teamwork is required between the workmen for satisfactoryresults. Conventional pikes are frequently about eighteen feet long andof metal or wood. With the pikes impaling the pole, the workmen increaseor relieve pressure on various sides of the pole and thus attempt tohoist the pole into precise position. After the position has beenobtained, dirt is filled in the hole around the pole and tamped down.

This is a tedious, time consuming, and somewhat hazardous task. When thepikes are made of wood, workmen frequently get splinters in their hands.It has been known for heavy pikes to fall onto workmen imposing seriousinjury. Further, sprained backs and other undue muscular strains resultfrom suddenly having to bear part of the weight of a pole whileattempting to bring it into vertical position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved method and apparatus for erecting poles and the like.

Another object is to provide a powered extensible and retractable pike.

Another object is to minimize or prevent muscular and bodily injury and/or fatigue in erecting poles.

Another object is to enable the hoisting of poles by mechanical ratherthan manual means.

Another object is to reduce the time and labor incident to the hoistingof poles and the expenses incident thereto.

Another object, in a power operated pike adapted to penetrate a pole, isto prevent undue impalement of the pole with the pike and to facilitatesubsequent removal thereof.

Other objects are to provide a hoisting implement of the characterdescribed which is simple in construction and operation, dependable inaction, and durable in form.

These and other objects will become more fully apparent upon referenceto the following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two of the pikes of the presentinvention shown as used in raising a power pole into vertical position.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged elevation, with portions in longitudinalsection and other portions broken away, of one of the pikes of FIG. 1with the cap removed.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper end of the pike ofFIG. 2 showing the cap fitted on said upper end.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation, partially in section, of thelower end of the pike and showing in particular a supporting basetherefor.

FIG. 5 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of aportion of the pike particularly showing a check valve passage in anhydraulic system forming part of the implement.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat enlarged longitudinal section of the lower end ofthe hoisting implement showing other passageways in the hydraulicsystem.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, a mechanicallypowered pike is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1. Thepike provides a lower body 11 having an upwardly disposed internallythreaded socket 12.

An hydraulic ram 16 includes an elongated ram cylinder 17 having a lowerexternally threaded end 18 screwthreaded into the socket 12 and an upperexternally threaded end 19. A nut 20 is screw-threaded over the upperend of the ram cylinder and provides a central bore axially aligned withthe ram cylinder. An elongated cylindrical tube 21 is extended betweenthe nut and the body in circumscribing, peripherally spaced, concentricrelation to the ram cylinder. The tube is in fluid-tight engagement withthe nut and the body and together with the ram cylinder defines a fluidreservoir 22.

An elongated piston rod 26 is mountedfor slidable movement in the ramcylinder 17 and has a lower end 27 terminating in external threads. Acup piston 30 is fitted over the lower end of the rod and a nut 32 isscrewthreaded on said lower end to retain the piston on the rod. Thepiston rod has an upper end slidably extended through the bore of thenut 29. The invention is not to be limited to the use of an hydraulicram but other telescopic extension devices, such as a mechanical jack,may be employed. However, the described hydraulic ram has markedadvantages for the purpose.

An elongated, cylindrical outer sleeve 36 is concentrically slidablyfitted over the tube 21 for longitudinal slidable movement on the tube.The sleeve has an open lower end terminating adjacent to the lower endof the tube when the piston 30 is fully retracted and an upper endsecured, as by welding, toa head 38 on the upper end of the piston rod26.

The body 11 provides a substantially cylindrical bore 49, constituting apump cylinder, positioned with its longitudinal axes extended upwardlyin acute angular relation to the axis of the socket 12 and openingexteriorly of the body. A packing nut 41 having a central bore isscrewthreaded into the pump cylinder 49, and an elongated pump pistonrod 42 is longitudinally slidably fitted in the pump cylinder and thebore of the packing nut. The pump piston rod has a lower end 43 overwhich is fitted a backing washer 44, and a cup piston 45. A pistonretainer 46 is secured to the pump piston rod endwardly of the piston.

Brackets 50 are upwardly extended from the body 11 on opposite sides ofthe pump cylinder 40 and mount a horizontal pivot pin 51 therein. Ahandle socket 52 is journaled on the pivot pin, and a further pin '53connects I the handle socket to the pump piston rod 42. A pump handle 54is provided for releasable insertion into the handle socket for movingthe pump piston rod longitudinally inwardly and outwardly of the pumpcylinder 40.

The body 11 has a check valve passage 60, best seen in FIG. 5, includingan inner cylindrical section 61, an intermediate cylindrical section 62,and an outer cylindrical section 63 opening externally of the body, eachof successively greater diameter. A valve plug 64 is screw-threaded intothe open end of the valve passage, and a valve seal 65 positionedagainst the plug. A suction ball 67 is yieldably urged against the mouthof the inner section by means of a suction spring 68, and a pressureball 69 is yieldably urged against the mouth of the intermediate sectionby means of a pressure spring 70. The latter spring also bears againstthe valve seal.

An extension passage 75 interconnects the inner section 61 of the checkvalve passage 60 with the reservoir 22. A ram passage 76 interconnectsthe outer section 63 with the ram cylinder 17 at the lower end thereofbeneath the piston 30. The ram passage has an inner end portion, and anouter end extension 78 in which is screw-threaded a packing nut 77. Arelease valve 79 is screw-threaded into a bore in the packing nut havingan inner end adapted to seat in the inner end portion of the rampassage. The body also has a retraction reservoir passage 80interconnecting the outer end portion 78 of the ram passage and thereservoir. When the release valve is backed off, fluid communication isestablished between the reservoir and the ram passage. When the releasevalve is tightened inwardly, however, this communication is blocked.Still further, the body has a pump cylinder passage 81 interconnectingthe intermediate section of passage 6% and the lower end of the pumpcylinder 40.

An elongated rigid shank 85 has a lower end 86 secured, as by welding,to the upper end of the outer sleeve 36. The shank is axially extendedfrom the sleeve, and thus the ram piston rod 26, and has an upper end 87of reduced diameter. The upper end has a slightly curved, tapered tip 88which is preferably somewhat flattened though terminating in a sharpenedknife edge. A stop collar 89 is secured to the upper end of the shank atan angle of substantially 45 with the shank and immediately below thetip.

An eyelet 95 is secured to the shank 85 adjacent to the upper end 87,and a coiled tension spring $6 has an end connected to the eyelet. Asubstantially cylindrical elongated hollow cap 97 provides a closedupper end 98 and an open lower end 99 circumscribed by a beveled edge atan angle of approximately 45 with the longitudinal axis of the cap. Thespring provides an extended end which is connected to the cap adjacentto its upper end by another eyelet 100. The spring is of such length asto permit placement of the cap over the tip 88 of the shank with thelower beveled edge of the cap engaging the upper surface of the collar89. In this position the spring exerts slight pressure on the caplongitudinally of the shank for dependably holding it in position. Thecap, of course, is conveniently removed by sliding it upwardly off fromthe tip and allowing it to hang freely from the shank.

The body 11 of the pike is secured, as by welding, to a channel-shapedmain base 105 including a central panel 106, and a pair of downwardlyextended side panels 107. A downwardly concave, fracto-cylindricalbearing 108 is secured to the underside of the central panel between theside panels and substantially parallel to the latter.

An auxiliary base 112 is provided including a substantially rectangularplate 113, spaced substantially parallel side flanges 114 rigidlyupwardly extended from the plate, and a rigid shaft 115 interconnectingthe side flanges in spaced relation to the plate.

An elongated preferably adjusted flexible tie member 120, such as achain provides an end 121 adapted for connection to either the main base105 or to the auxiliary base 112 by means of eyelets 123 and 124respectively secured to said bases, and an opposite end 125 to which isconnected a hook 126.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subjectinvention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly described atthis point. The operation is best understood in connection with theerection of a power pole, indicated at 130, having a lower end 131 andan upward-i ly extended end 132.

While describing the operation of the pike 10, a novel method oferecting a pole is also described. Initially, a

4 hole 135 is dug in the ground 136 so as to provide a bottom wall 137and an upstanding circumscribing side wall 138 terminating in an upperedge 139. It is assumed for illustrative convenience that a concretepavement 14% is located near the hole.

The lower end 131 of the pole 130 is inserted into the hole 135 with theaid of a cable and truck hoist, neither of which are shown, but whichare conventionally used in such an operation. The lower end of the polerests on the bottom wall 1'37 of the hole and the pole leans against theupper edge 139 toward the pavement. With the cable, not shown, stillconnected to the pole, the hole is partially filled, preferably aboutone-half, with dirt 145 so that the lower end of the pole is surroundedwith dirt. This dirt is then tamped in around the pole with the polestill in slightly inclined position.

Next, two pikes 10 are placed on the side of the pole 130 toward whichthe pole leans. The auxiliary base 112 of each pike is positioned withthe plate 113 flush against the pavement 1'40 and with the shaftsubstantially tangential to a circle concentric to the hole 135 and inspaced relation thereto. The chain is connected to the eyelet 124 andthe hook 126 is engaged over the upper edge 139 of the hole, or the edgeof the pavement between the hole and the auxiliary base, as indicated indashed lines in FIG. 1; the chain is looped around the pole andconnected to a link of the chain, as shown in full lines in FIG. 1; orthe chain is otherwise anchored in the ground so that movement of thebase away from the pole is resisted. With the ram 16 retracted, thebearing 108 is fitted over the shaft 115 and the pike leaned against thepole with the tip 88 in engagement therewith. The cap 97 is, of course,first removed. The length of the chain, that is, the distance of thebase 112 from the hole is such that the angle of the pike with theground is approximately 45. The bearing, in rotating on the shaft,enables positioning the pike at 45, or other desired angle.

The pump handle 54 is inserted into the socket 52 and the pump pistonrod 42 reciprocated in the pump cylinder 40. On the tip-stroke, fluid isdrawn through the reservoir passage 75 into the intermediate section 62of the check valve passage 60, and on the down-stroke, said fluid in theintermediate section is forced into the outer section and through theram passage 76 into the cylinder 17 to extend the piston rod 26 and thusthe shank 85. Continued pumping of the handle 54 causes the tip 88 topenetrate the pole. The stop collar 89 limits this penetration. Becauseof the angle of the pike and the angle of the collar, the latter is insubstantially flat engagement with the pole. The rotatably engagedbearing 108 and shaft 115 preclude imposition of bending forces on thepike by allowing the pike to pivot around shaft 115 as a horizontalaxis.

As the pikes 10 are extended, the pole is shoved away from them toward avertical position. Upon reaching a vertical, extension of the pikes isstopped, and the hole is completely filled with dirt 145.

However, partial filling of the hole with dirt enables movement of thepole 130 into vertical position by a preferred procedure. The pikes areextended to move the pole slightly beyond a vertical to place the dirt146 between the pole on the side of the pole opposite to the pikes andthe side wall 135 of the hole under compression. Although this ispreferably purposely done, it even may occur unintentionally. In anyevent the dirt in the hole provides a resilient cushion inasmuch as itis somewhat resiliently compressible and forces the pole back toward avertical position upon slightly contracting the ram 16. It will beevident that the dirt acts as an automatic and controllable force on theopposite side of the pole from the pikes so that a latitude ofadjustment is afforded for bringing the pole in-to precise position.Thus with the rams both slightly over extended, great finesse can beachieved in precise positioning by placing a level or other positionchecking means against the pole and gradually releasing hydraulic fluidfrom either or both rams by means of the valves 79 so that theresiliently compacted soil urges the pole into position.

After the pole 130 is positioned and with the pikes still in position,the hole is completely filled with dirt 145 and tamped down. The pikesare then contracted and removed from the pole by backing off the releasevalve 79 to allow fluid to escape from the ram cylinder 17 into thereservoir 22. As above stated, the collars 89, in preventing unduepenetration, facilitate disengagement from the poles.

In working on ordinary ground, the auxiliary base 112 is usually notemployed. The main base M5 is then used since the side panels 109frictionally engage or slightly penetrate the earth to hold the base inposition. In this case, the chain 120 can also be employed, a before.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the powered pike 10 offers adecided improvement over the pikes of the prior art. The device reducesthe time and labor re quired in erecting poles and avoids the hazardsand strain previously encountered. In practice, a line of power polesextending over many miles of mountainous terrain has been erected byonly three men using pikes of the present invention as compared with theusually required crew of seven or eight needed for even level groundoperation.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred method and embodiment,it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scopeof the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosedherein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as toembrace any and all equivalent methods, devices, and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. An hydraulic pike for hoisting an elongated pole lower end insertedinto a hole in the ground and prior to being hoisted by said pike is inangular relation to the ground comprising a base member adapted to reston the ground in spaced relation to the hole, an hydraulic ram includinga cylinder and a piston rod longitudinally reciprocally mounted in thecylinder for extension and retraction relative to the cylinder, meansmounting the cylinder on the back, an elongated rigid shank connected tothe piston rod and axially extended therefrom having a single uppersharpened pole penetrating end adapted to engage the pole in upwardlyspaced relation from the ground, an elongated outer guide sleevelongitudinally slidably fitted in circumscribing relation to the ram andhaving an upper end rigidly connected to the shank for longitudinalmovement therewith relative to the ram, means connected to the ram forextending the piston rod to drive the penetrating end into the pole andfor retracting the rod to remove said end from the pole, the sleeveserving to impart strength to the connection between the shank and theram and particularly when the piston rod is extended and weight of apole is borne by the pike thereby resisting bending forces andfacilitating free slidable movement of the piston rod in the cylinderand a stop collar connected to the shank adjacent to said pene tratingend transversely of the shank and engageable with the pole uponextension of the ram for limiting penetration of said end into the polewhereby extension of the ram urges the pole into substantially verticalposition.

2. The pike of claim 1 wherein the tip is slightly curved, is tapered toa point, and is somewhat flattened transversely thereof; wherein theshank has a longitudinal concentric axis; and wherein the collar isannular, pro vides a plane upper surface and is in oblique angularrelation to the axis of the shank and in substantially the same angularrelation thereto as the angular relation between the shank and theground when the pike is in position against a pole so that the uppersurface of the collar is adapted for flush engagement with a pole toenable maximum application of pressure to the pole.

3. The pike of claim 1 wherein the mounting means includes a body havinga socket into which the ram cylinder is fitted, an annular nut connectedto the cylinder in spaced relation to the body and slidably receivingthe piston rod, an elongated tube in circumscribing circumferentiallyspaced relation to the ram cylinder having opposite ends in fluid-tightengagement with the nut and with the body and defining a resorvoir withthe ram cylinder, the sleeve being in slidable fitted engagement overthe tube, the body including a pump cylinder and fluid passagewaysinterconnecting the pump cylinder, the ram cylinder, and the fluidreservoir, a pump piston rod longitudinally reciprocally mounted in thepump cylinder for pumping fluid from the reservoir into the ram cylinderfor extending the shank, a handle connected to the pump piston rod forenabling reciprocation thereof and extended outwardly from the sleeveadjacent to the base, and means mounted in the body releasably extendedinto the passageways for releasing fluid from the ram cylinder forreturn to the reservoir to enable retraction of the shank.

4. An hydraulic pike for hoisting an elongated pole into substantiallyvertical position, which pole has a lower end inserted into a hole inthe ground and prior to being hoisted by said pike is in angularrelation to the ground, comprising an hydraulic ram including a cylinderand a piston rod longitudinally reciprocally mounted in the cylinder forextension and retraction relative to the cylinder, an elongated rigidshank connected to the piston rod and axially extended therefrom havingan upper sharpened pole penetrating end adapted to engage the pole inupwardly spaced relation from the ground, an elongated outer guidesleeve longtudinally slidably fitted in circumscribing relation to theram and having an upper end rigidly connected to the shank forlongitudinal movement therewith relative to the ram, means connected tothe ram for extending the piston rod to drive the penetrating end intothe pole and to raise the pole and for retracting the rod to remove saidend from the pole, the sleeve serving to impart strength to theconnection between the shank and the ram and particularly when thepiston rod is extended and Weight of a pole is borne by the pike therebyresisting bending forces and facilitating free slidable movement of thepiston rod in the cylinder, a stop collar connected to the shankadjacent to said penetrating end transversely of the shank andengageable with the pole upon extension of the ram for limitingpenetration of said end into the pole whereby extension of the ram urgesthe pole into substantially vertical position, a substantiallyrectangular plate adapted to be supported on the ground in spacedrelation to the hole, spaced flanges upstanding from the plate, a shaftrigidly interconnecting the flanges adapted to be positioned sub-.stantially tangential to a circle concentric to the hole, a

concave bearing rotatably fitted on the shaft, and means mounting thebearing on the cylinder of the ram in substantially perpendicularrelation thereto for enabling pivotal movement of the ram and the shankaround said shaft as an axis toward and away from the pole duringextension and retraction of the ram whereby bending forces are notimposed on the ram and the shaft.

5. A method for erecting an elongated power pole having a lower endcomprising digging a hole in the ground having a substantiallyhorizontal bottom and a substantially vertical circumscribing side wallterminating in an upper edge, inserting the lower end of the pole in thehole and resting said lower end on said bottom with the pole leaningagainst the upper edge of the hole in angular relation to the surface ofthe ground, filling substantially half of the hole around the pole withdirt having resilient compressibility so that the lower end of the polein the hole is surrounded by dirt, tamping said dirt in the hole untilit is packed around the lower end of the pole, ap-

plying pressure to the pole in Vertically spaced relation to the groundto move the pole from said angular posi tion to slightly beyond avertical position so as to place the dirt under compression between thepole and the sidewall on the opposite side of the pole from the side onwhich pressure is applied, gradually relieveing the pressure on the poleuntil the resilience of said compressed dirt returns the pole tosubstantially vertical position, completely filling the hole with dirtaround the pole, tamping said dirt to pack it tightly around the pole,and removing said pressure.

6. An apparatus for hoisting an elongated pole, such as those employedin connection with electrical power lines, into substantially verticalposition, the pole having a lower end inserted into a hole in the groundand, prior to such hoisting, being in angular relation to the ground,comprising a pair of elongated, individually longitudinally continuouslyadjustable hydraulic pikes individually including base members adaptedto rest on the ground in spaced relation to each other and to the holeon the side of the hole toward which the pole is leaning and intriangular relationship with the hole, hydraulic ramsineluding cylindersindividually secured to their respective bases and piston rodslongitudinally reciprocally mounted in their respective cylinders forextension and retraction relative to the cylinders, elongated rigidshanks connected to the piston rods and axially extended therefromhaving upper sharpened pole penetrating ends adapted to engage the polein upwardly spaced relation from the ground and in closely adjacentperipherally spaced relation on the side of the pole toward which thepole is leaning, means connected to the rams for extending the pistonrods to drive the penetrating ends into the pole and for retracting therods to remove said ends from the pole, stop collars individuallyconnected to the shank adjacent to their respective penetrating ends,transversely of the shanks, and engageable with the pole upon extensionof their respective rams for limiting penetration of said ends into thepole whereby extension of the rams urges the pole into substantiallyvertical position, and tension members individually interconnecting thebase members and the pole adjacent to the ground anchoring the basemembers in predetermined substantially fixed spaced relation to thehole.

7. An hydraulic pike for hoisting elongated poles into erect positionscomprising a base member adapted to rest on the ground, an elongatedhydraulic ram having opposite ends and a substantially smoothcylindrical periphery, controlled hydraulic means connected to the ramfor longitudinally extending and contracting the ram, an elongated rigidshank connected to the end of the ram opposite from the base andextended longitudinally from the ram in substantial alignment withcontraction and extension movement thereof, a shank having an extendedend providing a sharpened tip endwardly extended therefrom, a stopcollar mounted on the shank in spaced adjacent relation to the tiphaving a pole engaging surface obliquely related to the shank, and asleeve rigidly connected to the shank and slidably fitted to thecylindrical periphery of the ram to resist misalignment of the shankwith said contraction and extension movement of the ram.

8. An hydraulic pike for hoisting elongated poles into erect positioncomprising a base member adapted to rest on the ground, an hydraulic ramhaving a cylinder providing a substantially cylindrical peripheralportion and a piston mounted for reciprocal movement in the cylinder andhaving a piston rod extended from the cylinder, controlled hydraulicmeans connected to the cylinder of the ram for longitudinally extendingand contracting the piston rod from the cylinder, means mounting thecylinder on the base member, an elongated shank rigidly connected to thepiston rod in longitudinal alignment therewith, the shank having anextended end providing a sharpened tip for pole engagement, a stopcollar mounted on the shank adjacent to the tip having a pole engagingsurface obliquely related to the shank, and a sleeve rigidly connectedto the shank and slidably received on the peripheral portion of thecylinder of the ram to resist misalignment of the shank with the pistonrod during contraction and extension movement thereof.

9. A method for setting an elongated pole having a lower end, in a holepreviously provided in the ground comprising placing the lower end ofthe pole in the hole with the pole upwardly inclined therefrom wherebythe pole has an underside, placing dirt having resilient compressibilityin the hole about the pole, applying independeutly contrclled liftingpressures to the underside of the pole along two angularly related linesof force spaced transversely of the pole to lift the pole toapproximately a desired ultimate substantially upright position wherebydirt is resiliently compressed in the hole on the side of the poleopposite to said lines of force, and independently regulating saidpressures in relation to the resilient compression of the dirt toachieve movement of the pole to said ultimate position in selecteduniversal direction.

10. A method for setting an elongated pole having a lower end, in a holepreviously provided in the ground comprising placing the lower end ofthe pole in the hole with the pole upwardly inclined therefrom wherebythe pole has an underside, filling substantially the lower half of thehole about the pole with dirt having resilient compressibility, applyingindependently controlled lifting pressures having horizontal componentsof force to the underside of the pole along two angularly related linesof force spaced peripherally of the pole to lift the pole toapproximately a desired ultimate substantially upright position wherebydirt is resiliently compressed in the hole on the side of the poleopposite to said lines of force, and independently and selectivelyincreasing and decreasing said pressures in relation to resilientcompression of the dirt whereby when either pressure is substantiallygreater than the resilient compression of the dirt the pole moves in thedirection of said pressure and when either pressure is substantiallyless than the resilient compression of the dirt the pole moves inopposition to said pressure until the pole reaches said ultimateposition, and filling the remainder of the hole to hold the pole in saidposition while the pole is still subject to said pressures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,174,950 Sedgwick Mar. 7, 1916 1,482,846 Harrah Feb. 5, 1924 2,604,640Junkin July 29, 1952 2,757,903 Bill Aug. 7, 1956' 2,814,396 Neale Nov.26, 1957 2,915,210 Ehmann Dec. 1, 1959

